Last of the Blacksmiths are one of the most talented and moving bands here in the Bay Area.  Comprised of Nathan Wanta, Nigel Pavao and Bert Garibay, who play everything from mandolin to keys to guitar to drums, the band's sound rolls from The Band-like harmonies and depth to deep fried Southern- sounding funky interplay and heaviness. To check out their music, visit the band's Myspace page. Their latest record, Young Family Song, is available at Amoeba. I chatted with Nathan and Nigel recently about their visit to Levon Helm's farm, how Bikini Kill makes them cry, and the charm of a Wurlitzer.

Miss Ess: So, what have you been listening to lately?

NATHAN: Seems that this can change so drastically from day to day, but thinking of albums that I’ve listened to most in the past year or so, I’d say Allen Toussaint’s first three records probably win, followed by Dennis Wilson’s Pacific Ocean Blue, the Amazing Visions Black Fiction cd that Bert gave me,Terry Allen’s Juarez, Candi Staton’s Candi, Clifford Coulter’s, East Side San Jose, and I can’t leave out Eugene McDaniel’s Outlaw. Was pretty obsessed with the song “Cherrystones” for a while.  

This week has been so "meh." Overall there's been a definite lack of what I like to call "inspirado" and I just have not been totally on fire these last couple of days at all. 

That said, there have been a scant few sources of this aforementioned inspirado lately: 


I have been listening to the new Joanna Newsom EP, Joanna Newsom and the Ys Street Band, an awful lot. It's gorgeous, of course, esp her harmonies with Neal Morgan on "Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie." That's my favorite thing at the moment.

  ... And there has been so much going on on my favorite show, The View, this week too, with Rosie announcing that, sadly, she is not coming back next season and Alec Baldwin trying to explain his heinous behavior towards his daughter. So much drama! 

One thing that has been the source of inspirado during this weirdo week has been the new Mavis Staples record, We'll Never Turn Back. How can anyone possibly not simply adore Mavis Staples? I feel like this album is even more powerful than some of her older ones.

All the songs are protest songs, and she wraps her gospel voice all around them and makes them so moving all over again. It was produced, seemingly like most things, by Ry Cooder. Mavis's voice will never grow old. The cd is supposed to be inspiring and I would definitely say it achieves its goal. When I hear Mavis Staples killing it like that, I want to go back for the billionth time to another one of my favorite things, The Band's film The Last Waltz to watch the Staples Singers perform "The Weight."  It's a perfect song, to me, the writing, the performance...the inspirado...